A Road Map to the Jhanas
To begin with find your stable posture and plan for a long sit. One hour is a good beginning, more is good. Settle you body and begin to follow your point of concentration while subtly dismissing any interference.
It is essential to affix to your point of concentration with undivided attention.
Do not move. Your body can relax into the posture as the bones adjust down.
Continue as your outside thoughts recede and your simple effort locks you in.
The first Jhana is simply labeled as bliss. This is a body sensation.
The bliss is felt in the body not the mind. It feels as though the blood is filled with champagne bubbles. Any pain in the body ceases to be an issue.
One may send simple verbal instructions to oneself to send waves of relaxation through the body, do not Move the body. Always return to the point of concentration but after awhile shift your point of concentration to the blissful body sensations.
Thoughts and opinions do not occur, one may simply continue in this Jhana without interference.
Also, one may bring the sensations off the pillow by continuing with the point of concentration.
Hold this Jhana for awhile -- maybe at least 10 or 15 minutes.
The second Jhana is Joy. This is an emotional sensation.
Shift your attention from the body sensations to the heart.
It is essential to affix to your point of concentration with undivided attention.
Do not move. Your body can relax into the posture as the bones adjust down.
Continue as your outside thoughts recede and your simple effort locks you in.
The first Jhana is simply labeled as bliss. This is a body sensation.
The bliss is felt in the body not the mind. It feels as though the blood is filled with champagne bubbles. Any pain in the body ceases to be an issue.
One may send simple verbal instructions to oneself to send waves of relaxation through the body, do not Move the body. Always return to the point of concentration but after awhile shift your point of concentration to the blissful body sensations.
Thoughts and opinions do not occur, one may simply continue in this Jhana without interference.
Also, one may bring the sensations off the pillow by continuing with the point of concentration.
Hold this Jhana for awhile -- maybe at least 10 or 15 minutes.
The second Jhana is Joy. This is an emotional sensation.
Shift your attention from the body sensations to the heart.